Traction cleat



May 16, 1950 w. G. FRENZEL TRACTION CLEAT Filed Feb. 9, 1948 l WMATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTIONCLEAT Wilbur George Frenzel, Nome, Tex.

Application February 9, 1948, Serial No. 7,180.

1 Claim.

My invention relates to traction cleats generally, and more particularlyto lugs for tractor wheels.

The main object of my invention is to provide a tractor lug adapted tobe equipped with an easily and readily removable ground engaging part ofsubstantially spade-like form to facilitate the penetration of the cleatinto the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tractor cleat of thischaracter which is comprised in a base part adapted to be removablysecured to the tread of a tractor or the like and to have a spade-likepart detachably supported thereon.

Other objects of my invention not specifically mentioned may appear inthe following specification describing my invention with reference tothe accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention. It is, however, to be understood that my invention is not tobe limited and restricted to the exact construction and combination ofparts described in the specification and shown in the drawing, but thatsuch changes and modifications may be made which fall within the scopeof the claim appended hereto.

In the several figures of the drawing similar parts are indicated bysimilar reference character and Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofa cleat constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the inventionand in applied position;

Figure 2 is a View in perspective of the cleat unapplied with the spadeomitted;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the spade per se;

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the device as shown in Figure1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a side view of a wedge pin for securing the spade-like partin position on the base part.

The tractor cleat forming the subject matter of my invention comprises abase, generally indicated at L, having a substantially frustopyramidical main portion or body formed by a forward and a rearward wallI and I l respectively, which incline upwardly toward each other. Thelower edge of each of the two walls I!) and II, is outturned to providemounting flanges l3 and I4 respectively for securement on the surface ofa caterpillar plate l as shown in Figure 5 or onto the rim iii of atractor wheel I! as indicated in Figure 1. Each flange l3, I4 isprovided with a hole Hi to receive a bolt l9 therethrough to secure thebase in place on the tractor tread. A

wall It), a socket 22 is formed by two side walls 23' extending adistance forwardly from the front wall Ill and upwardly from the frontflange l3 and a front wall 24 connecting the front ends of the sidewalls 23. This front wall extends upwardly from the flange l3 inparallel relation to the wall ID.

The above described base L is thus constructed to have a spade-like partS removably but securely mounted thereon, which has a fiat lower portion25 to overlie the front wall I!) and its lower edge engaged in thesocket 22 on the flange l3; the opposite ends of the lower edge havingangular cutouts to provide shoulders 26 and 21, which seat over thesocket end walls 23. From the outer end of the top face of the shoulder21,

the vertical end edge 28, of the lower portion 25 of the spade S, is cutaway at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, so that the edge 28 islocated approximately one inch beyond the adjacent end of the cleat L,or, in other words, the portion of the spade above the horizontal planepassing through the upper end of the angular cut is approximately oneinch longer than the length of the lower shouldered portion of the wall25. The upper portion of the spade S, above the top of the wall portion25, is substantially triangular in cross section, so that a relativelysharp edge 30 is formed at its top. A lug 3| is formed at the center ofthe lower side of the upper portion of the spade S and is shaped to fitinto the cutout or recess 20 in the top of the cleat L, with its lowerend depending into the space between the walls It! and I l of thelatter, when the spade is seated on the cleat. The surfaces of the underside of the upper spade portion, constituting shoulders 33 at theopposite sides of the lug 3|, rest upon the flat top surfaces of thecleat L, at opposite sides of the recess or cutout 20. A tapered bore 34is formed through the lug 3| to receive a similarly tapered locking pin35, which is inserted inwardly from an end of the space between thewalls Ill and H of the cleat L and into wedging engagement with the bore24, to secure the spade S rigidly in place. Preferably, the larger outerend of the pin 34 made cylindrical and the remainder of the length ofthe pin oval in crosssection, with the greater diameter disposedvertidownward pressure on the lug to eifectively retain When the spadebecomesthe parts together. dull, it can be removed for sharpening, or for replacement, by driving the pin 35 free fromthe lug 3|.

I claim:

A traction cleat comprising-an'elongated'basepart formed of oppositelyinclined walls connected together at their top ends, the connectingportion OI s d. Wellshavin .v a fl tten, divided. (by a downw rd y, taerinsrecess wh ch opens through itaonnosite tsidesand inter thespacebetween-the walls below the. onnecting. nort on, apertured 'allgeleutetnmedimm thelowerdge por iens' L sa dmallsufor, t e holtin rofithaame he read, of, a: tractor, aasocket. formed n. e of. sadrtlansesnarallebtoqthe a aaentu ne f said walls aispacleiof triangularformi-n crossssection endiofz a en th .sez ewhatslteater han that of ath-base adapted toheseatedlon. th hase, said spade having the lowerportion of one of its sides cut away to form undercut shoulders and aside face to lie against the said adjacent one of said walls of thebase, the lower edge of said lower portion being engaged in said socket,a lug depending centrally between said shoulders and seated in saidrecess with its lower portion projecting downwardly within the spacebetween the wallsof-l said base, the shouldersnat opposite sides Qf:Said lug seating on the'said fiatvtop of ,the connecting portion of saidwalls at opposite sides of said recess, said lug having a bore extendingthrough the depending portion of the same, and a tapered pin adapted tobe inserted inwardly of an ended, the space between the walls of saidbase and driven into the bore of said lug to secure the base-and spaderigidly together.

VVILBUR GEORGE FRENZEL.

REFERENEES CITED The..follow.ie eren e are. of record in the file ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nam Date,

1,30%,375: Robinet ,.r r r rp. May-20,,l919. 1,417,020 Bass r r r May23,1922 1,892,945 Griebat V Jan. 3, 1933

